SOFIA: Bulgaria's two leading cinema chains are at the center of a cartel investigation by the country's anti-trust agency, theCommission the Protection of Competition (KZK).

Croatian director Boris Bakal is participating in Ex-Oriente 2012 with his documentary film project Vitic Dances.

BATUMI, GEORGIA: Batumi art house "Argani"/BIAFF International Film Festival (www.biaff.org) launched the BIAFF summer film school on script development in Batumi on 28 July 2012, running through 3 August, 2012.

TIBLISI: The Georgian National Film Center (www.gnfc.ge) selected five projects which will receive script development grants of 5000 GEL (2,500 EUR).

{mosimage}MOSCOW: FNE director Anna Franklin was on stage in Moscow recently to present a prize on behalf of FNE at Cut the Russian awards for best producer of debuts in Russia and the CIS. This is part of the FNE initiative to open new opportunities for CEE filmmakers in Germany and Russia by introducing new names and new talents.